A pinch of pollen from burning bush
2 spiky pods of cocklebur
5 leaves of mugwort
1 cup blossoms of pigweed
Are you envisioning cackling witches crafting a wicked brew in their large, black cauldron? Nope, they’re not this time, but these ingredients are no less spooky to seasonal allergy sufferers. It’s autumn, and with it, Mother Nature is once again displaying her most fiendish flora to torment all the sneezers and snifflers out there.
For the allergy and asthma afflicted, the indoors ought to provide a respite from nature’s persecution, but unless your indoor air quality is mitigated, the same pollen-filled air that’s got you sneezing will find its way right into your house as well.
At Ideal Heating and Air Conditioning, it’s our goal to make your house the sanctuary it was meant to be, and that means making sure the air in your home is clean and the temperature is comfortable. Let us help you reclaim comfort in your home with our recommended products and services.
Take Care of Your Air Filters to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Did you know that the air quality inside homes can be 2.5 times more polluted than outdoor air? The walls and ceilings trap germs, pet dander, dust, and more, which we breathe in over and over. Yuck! Since knocking out your living room wall to let those contaminants escape is not a practical option for acquiring cleaner air, let’s take a look at the other chief suspect…your air filters.
Air filters provide a screen that captures all those pesky little particles floating in the air. Over time, those filters get clogged and no longer work efficiently, forcing you to keep your heater or air conditioner running more often to maintain a comfortable temperature. You’re also stuck breathing contaminated air. Hello, seasonal allergies flare up! Generally, it’s best to change out your filters every three months and more frequently if they are clogged with particles sooner than that.
When you do change those filters, know that not all air filters are equal. Their ability to keep your air clean is scored with a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value). Each type of filter is marked with MERV followed by a number. The higher the number, the better it filters out pollutants. The most common residential grade MERV values are 8, 11, and 13.
We recommend MERV 11 filters, as they have a 90% efficiency rate, trapping dust, pollen, lint, dust mites, mold, smoke, pet dander, bacteria, smog, and more. MERV 11 is the minimum grade recommended to protect seasonal allergy sufferers. As a bonus, this filter fights odors from pets and smoking.
If your family member suffers from severe allergies or asthma, consider MERV 13 filters. They effectively trap even more particles than their MERV 11 counterparts and come with the added bonus of stopping many airborne viruses and bacteria as well.
Air Filtration Products Banish Seasonal Allergy Instigators
If MERV 11 or 13 air filters are not enough to protect your family from allergic reactions, your home will benefit from an air filtration system. They use ionization to change the particle ions and render them harmless and are tremendously effective at providing pure, clean air to breathe.
4” Filters
Most air filter racks accommodate filters with a 1” thickness. However, these filters clog quickly, constricting airflow and forcing your HVAC to work much harder to keep air circulating. You’ll find yourself needing to replace filters monthly. Additionally, these thin filters have a limited capacity to trap allergens and contaminants in the air.
4” filters are a much more effective option. They capture exponentially more pollutants in the air while allowing air to flow easily through them. These filters last a minimum of six months, and in some cases last for a year.
Installing 4” filters will necessitate a 4” filter rack, which we can quickly and easily install in your home, allowing your entire household to breathe easy.
Accuclean
Accuclean is a powerful option to improve air quality throughout your entire home. This is the first air filtration system to have earned certification from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America because of its effectiveness in protecting those with allergies and asthma. Accuclean also operates so cleanly that it has earned the federal government’s “zero ozone verification” rating.It will cleanse your air of 99.98% of contaminants, including influenza A and COVID-19 as it works in conjunction with your existing heating and air conditioning systems.
Accuclean does not contain disposable filters which have to be replaced quarterly. Instead, it comes with a metal screen that can be cleaned and reused. To keep the Accuclean working efficiently, simply remove the screen and prefilter and vacuum off the accumulated particles on them. The cells will periodically need cleaning as well.
Aerus Air Scrubber
The Aerus Air Scrubber is another hard-working whole-home air purification system that connects directly to your HVAC ducts. From there, it removes 99.9% of contaminants within 24 hours of installation. The use of both negatively and positively charged ions sets this system apart, as it not only removes particles from the air, but it also strips pollutants from the surfaces where viruses and bacteria linger. A single unit can effectively clean 2000 square feet in the average home, and it comes with a five-year warranty.
Utilizing the Aerus Air Scrubber in tandem with Accuclean will provide you with an impenetrable defense against all air pollutants, odors, viruses, and allergens.
Seasonal Maintenance = Optimal Performance
Whichever air purification method you choose to keep seasonal allergens outdoors where they belong, regular maintenance is vital to keep your HVAC in peak condition (and avoid costly repairs and discomfort). If your unit isn’t working properly, no air filtration system is going to be able to perform as it ought.
Ideal Heating and Air Conditioning offers a variety of maintenance plans to suit your needs, and each comes with helpful reminders when it is time to schedule service. Let us help your home become the healthy, comfortable sanctuary it was meant to be. Give us a call today.
